Who is at Risk for Macular Degeneration?
As people age, everyone is at risk of developing macular degeneration. Although AMD may occur during middle age, the National Eye Institute reports that people over the age of 60 are at greater risk than any other age group. If you are middle-aged, study results also show that you have about a 2% risk of getting AMD. However, your risk increases to nearly 30% if you are over the age of 75. Other risk factors include smoking, obesity and family history. If you are white, you are much more likely to lose vision from AMD than if you are African American. In addition, women are at greater risk than men. How is Macular Degeneration Detected? Macular degeneration is diagnosed during a comprehensive eye examination which will include: Visual Acuity Test – testing your vision at various distances Dilated Eye Exam – examining your retina and the back of your eye Tonometry – measuring your intraocular pressure Your doctor may also use an Amsler Grid, a series of intersecting lines that resemble
